What do the rest of you, as readers, think about it? Would you feel it was a good deal--free ebook with the purchase of a hardcover, either directly from me or with proof-of-purchase from a bookstore?

It would be great - for the readers
It would probably not change my buying habit much, as I anyway buy hardcover and eBook of books I like. Impulse buying is for ebooks only (and when I have micropay $ left over ) and I would maybe buy a bit more hardcovers from authors I like and trust to get the ebook.